Sometimes, the bravery of the Russian opposition is second to none. Jumping under tanks as some of the Ukrainian civilians have done, and risking one’s life to stop armored columns is child’s play compared to what the Russian opposition have to deal with on an annual basis. Stepping up and being peacefully arrested in your hundreds by three policemen (and showing no resistance) is mental and absolutely out of this world. An incident as such was seen in central Moscow on the 2nd of June. Footage of the detainment of Russian opposition protesters sent a shockwave of goosebumps across the world.
In an orderly fashion that would make any disciplined society proud, the protesters stood in line, patiently awaiting their turn to be arrested. Some even tried to cut in line to be arrested first. Others tried to cheat and be arrested two or three times, but were swiftly prevented from doing so by the security forces of the three riot policemen that were present. The queue snaked around the city block, with each dissenter maintaining their place with the decorum of a theater-goer waiting to enter a ballet. Conversations about the weather, the latest Tolstoy adaptation, and speculations about which brand of handcuffs the police might use filled the air, creating a surreal juxtaposition against the backdrop of looming state repression.
The atmosphere was almost festive, reminiscent of a queue for a blockbuster movie premiere rather than an illegal rally. Some protesters even brought snacks to share, and a few enterprising individuals set up small stands selling “Protest Pastries” and “Resistance Refreshments.” As the police approached, the protesters handed their belongings to their comrades with smiles and nods, like passengers readying for airport security checks. Each arrest was met with a polite exchange of pleasantries and a knock on the head with a baton, further baffling any onlookers expecting a more chaotic scene.
As the last protester was gently escorted to the waiting police van, the officers themselves seemed perplexed by the efficiency and cooperation displayed by their detainees. One could almost sense a shared confusion among the authorities about whether this was indeed a crackdown or some new form of state-approved civil obedience. Meanwhile, state media praised the protesters for their orderly conduct, inadvertently highlighting the absurdity of a system where standing in line to be arrested has become an act of defiance.